Deputies seized more than 20 horses from a local man's farm near Panama Saturday.

The LeFlore County Sheriff said he investigated several complaints of abuse and neglect.

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Rescuers said numerous complaints from a pasture off of AES Road spawned an animal cruelty investigation.

Horse rescuers took in 24 horses for rehabilitation.

"This is not a horse problem, this is a people problem," said Elizabeth O'Neal, who owns Triple O Ranch Equine Sanctuary.

One of the horses did not make it. A baby colt was found dead near a shelter.

"Can you see the horse shiver? On a day like this, under these circumstances, that horse should not feel that way," said O'Neal.

"I was shocked at the condition of the animals. The rain rot, the cuts on the animals, the conditions they were in, the lack of food and water; it's just a pretty sad situation," said LeFlore County Sheriff Rob Seale.

Rescuers from all over the area came out to take in the horses.

"We can take one or two in or help financially that's what we're going to do," said Rick Boivin, a horse rescuer from Lavaca, Ark.

Boivin saw the neglected animals and went to social media. That's how the investigation started.

"Social media has its advantages sometimes," said Boivin.

In the pasture, rescuers worked to herd the scared horses into trailers.

The sheriff said he's cracking down on anyone who abuses animals.

"If we get reports of this we're going to investigate it and if the conditions warrant it, we're going to continue what we're doing today," said Seale.

"We are now lucky to have our law enforcement ready to do whatever it takes," said O'Neal.

The sheriff said the owner hasn't been formally charged or arrested yet.